SNAKE CHARMER, THE
(Lyrics: Leonard Whitcup / Music: Teddy Powell)


Larry Clinton & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1937 
Jerry Blaine & His Stream Line Rhythm (Instr.) - 1937 
The Six Swingers (vocal: Sam Costa) - 1938 
Jack Harris & His Orch. (vocal: Dinah Miller) - 1938 
Nat Gonella & His Georgians - 1938 
Freddy Gardner & His Swing Orch. (Instr.) - 1938 
Eddy Stone & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1938 
Fud Candrix & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1938 
Hakan von Eichwald & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1938 
Bar-Trio (Instr.) - 1938 
Olavi Virta - 1956 (Finnish title "Kuningskobra")





As recorded by SAM COSTA
with George Scott-Wood's Six Swingers, 
7th February 1938, London:


The snake charmer from old Baghdad
Found out that Swing was the newest fad
Ev'ry night beneath the Moon
He would practice on a tune
He drove all his neighbours mad

All his friends tried to make him stop
Told him Swing was a total flop
He kept on playing rhythm just the same
Till at last came the lucky day
When his swing made the Sultan sway
From then on ev'ryone knew he was famous

Now he's got a million fans
Owns ev'ry band in the caravan
And he's making plenty dough
Jammin' on the radio
The snake charmer from old Baghdad


********************


As recorded by DINAH MILLER
with Jack Harris & His Orch., 
5th March 1938, London:


The snake charmer from old Baghdad
Learned how to jam, he would swing like mad 
Soon his snakes were nervous wrecks 
They got kinks in all their necks 
Hard snakes made his business bad

Still he went on his merry way
How they'd laugh when he'd start to play 
Long as they let him swing, they didn't care

And though he never made a cent
Playing tunes on his instrument
Soon his name was the toast of every harem

Sheiks knew he was in demand
So they decreed he should lead a band
Now he's weaving magic spells
Jamming in the swell hotels
The snake charmer from old Baghdad



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - April 2017)